Lock nut



c. G. oLsoN v March 7, 1939.

LOCK NUT Filed Nov. 25,1936 2 Sheets-sheet 1 Loox NUT Filed Nov. 25, v1936 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCK NUT Carl G. Olson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Illinois Tool Works, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Ilois 'I'his invention relates generally tol locking devices, and more 4particularly to locking devices of the internally threaded. type adapted to be applied to a threaded shank similar toa conventional nut.

Experience has shown that when conventional nuts, particularly of the smaller sizes, are used without auxiliary locking devices such as lock 4washers, difficulty has beenexperienced in preventing the loosening of such nuts due to vibraf tion. As an example of such difficulties, I refer to the ,small size conventional nuts used for stove bolts and the like. Stove manufacturers flnd that during the period of shipment their products l5 often experience severe vibration and shock. Not infrequently when transported stoves reach their destination, bolts and nuts have loosened and fallen'to the floor of the freight car.

Itis the primary object of the presentinveny simple and economically constructed lock'nut as set forth above which may be produced from al single strip of flexible metal as distinguished from the solid, non-rigid conventional nuts.

, It is a further object of the invention to provide a lock nut of the type referred to above which is adapted to yield when tightened against a work piece whereby to enhance the locking characteristics thereof.

Still more specifically, my invention contemplates a spring type or resilient lock nut as set forth above which is adapted to dig into the work when tightened thereagainst so as to vigorously I oppose retrograde-rotation, and the invention also contemplates resilient nuts of this type, either side of which may be applied to a threaded shank or lock nut constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, said nut being shown in association with a threaded shank and work piece; Y v Figure 2 is a View showing the resilient nut of Figure 1 in vertical cross section;

' shown in Figure 8;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the nut shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 discloses the nut of Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, after it has been tightened against the work; l, 3

Figure 5 discloses a slightly modified resilient nut in operative association with a threaded bolt and work piece; y

Figure 6 is a plan view of the blank of resilient l stock which is bent and flexed so as to present the 10 nut shown in Figures 1 to 4, inclusive; f

Figurev 7 discloses the blank from which the resilient nut of Figure 5 is formed;

Figure 8 disclosesa still further modified resilient nut 4construction shown in operative associa-v 16 tion with a threaded shank and work piece;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the spring nut Figure 10v discloses the blank from which the nut of Figures 8 and 9 is produced; 2o

Figure 11 is a central transverse vertical sec# tional view taken substantially along -the line II-II of Figure 8, after the nut has been tightened against the work;

Figure 12 is a perspectoive view of the under- 25 side of another modification;

Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the nut shown in li'igure'4 12, before it is tightened against the Work? and Figure 14 discloses the blank from which the 30 nut shown in-Figures 11 and 12 is produced.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various gures, it will be seen that the present invention 3.5

contemplates a yieldable or resilient locking device or nut designated generally by the numeral I5, Figures l to 4, inclusive. This nut I5 comprises identical body portions I6 normally separated bythe space I8 and connected to each other at one 40 margin by a neck 20.

Referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that the nut I 5 is formed from a substantially rectangular blank of resilient stock. The body portions I6, which are connected by the marginal member or 45 neck 20, are each provided with a threaded aperture 22 disposed centrally of each body portion. 'Ihe neck'20 is bounded on opposite sides by suitable recesses 24. When the two body portions I6 are folded along the line on marginal neck 2li (see 50 dot-and-dash line, Figure 6)', so as to finally as-l sume the position shown in Figures l and 2, the threaded apertures 22 are disposed coaxially so as to enable the nut to be applied to a `threaded shank 26 from either side of the nut.

I I prefer to deect the corners of each body axially of the nut so as to provide work engaging or locking teeth 28. These teeth or prongs 28 provide sharp corners .which are adapted, when,v the nut is tightened against the work, 'as shown in Figure 4, to imbed themselves into the surface of a work piece 30. Obviously, the degree to which the corners of the body portions I6 are deected depends upon the use to which the nut is toy be put. Also the degree of hardness of the'nut will be determined by the relative hardness of the work piece. In certain instances, it is preferable to temper the resilient stock of the nut so as to enable the teeth 28 to lockingly imbed themselves' within the work piece. y l

Particular attention is directed to the manner in which the above described nut lockingly functions'to secure itself against loosening when rmly tightened against the work 30. In Figures A1 and 2,the nut has been 'shown prior to the tightening thereof against the work. As the tightening of the nut continues, as for example by applying rotation to the threaded shank or bolt 26, the teeth iirst imbed themselves within the suraceiof the work. The resistance of the work iinally prevents further axial movement `of the lower section I6.

Continued rotation of 'the screw 26 causes the lower nut section-of body I6 in the vicinity of the threaded aperture 22 to be drawn toward the adjacent surfaceof the work piecev 30. This lower section I6 becomes dished, or concave-convex, as clearly shown in Figure 4. .During this period of tightening, the teeth or prongs 28 embedded within the work 30 prevent rotation of the nut withre-f spect to the work. The uppersectionof body portion I6 is alsol drawn down tight againstl the lower section I6 with the result that the thread helices within the nutare somewhat distorted or stressed. vThis continued flexing of the nut body sections I6 and threads, togetherwith the locking of the teeth 28 against the workgproducesa very effective nut locking action. .'The screw shank 26 will not turn because of they gripping action ofscrew by hand and then apply a screw-driver to the externally positioned head of the screw. As the teeth 28 of the nut engage the inner surface of the work structure, further relative rotation of the nut with respect to the work is precluded, and hence no wrench orv tool is required to enable continued tightening of the screw. As the screw is-nally driven home or tightened, the nut body portions. I6 are drawn toward each other in the manner described above so as to effect a iirm grip between the complementary threads of the nut and bolt.. In this position, both the nut and screw arepositively secured against loosening with respect to' the work, which might otherwise result from vibration or shock.

In Figure I have disclosed a slightly modied nut which is designated generally by the numeral I5a. The nut I5a is structurally similar to the .Knut I5, but differs'therefrom in that twocon- -which cooperates with half sections Itaz. These body portions'IGal andl |63: ,are provided with teeth`28a, and the neck portions 28a provide the the nutthreads upon` the screw threads, and the nut will. not rotate or shift with respect to the work because of the teeth 28. 1 v

The above described novel combination of locking elements which cooperate to resist forces tending to loosen the nut has great practical sig'- out the provision of some auxiliary fastening means. Thus, II provide in the simple resilient nut structure means forlboth securing the nut and screw against retrograde rotation and for securing the nut against loosening with. respect tion, automatically when the screw and nut are finally driven home. i I

The practical value of the present invention will probably be more -apparent when it is under- 'stood that stove bolts and the like are very -freeiective locking action of the Obviously, the mere fact that the nut hinge members to permit folding of the blankso as to .present the structure shown in Figure 5.

From the 'foregoing description itwiu be ap-L parentl that the'nut I 5a functions similarly to the nut I5 in that during the initial tightening of the nut against'the work the teeth become imbedded within the Work and upon continued tightening the body portions I6a and Ilix are urged toward each other so as to eifectively grip thecomplementary thread helices in the screw, as previously described.- i

Figures 8 to 1v1, inclusive,'disclose another nut embodiment which I have designated generally by the vnumeral I5b. This nut 15b is quite similar to the nut I5a lin that the body portions are connected by a pair .of hinges. however, diiers from I5a in providing a hexagonal'nut as distinguished from the square nut I5a'. Also av pair of Work engaging teeth or prongs 28h are formed by deflecting oppositely disposed corners of the body section. The blank is folded 9. Figure 11 discloses the nut I5b after it has ,been nally tightened against the work.`

Figures 12 to 14, linclusive, disclose a still to the work. Both of ythese locking agencies funcf furthermodication, the nut therein being deslgvnated generally by the numeral I5c. This hex-l agonal nut I5c is quite similar to the nut |512', diiering only therefrom in providing radial lslits or recesses 32. 'Ihe corner portions of the body 'section of the nut I5c are'deiiected, as shown in Figures r12 to 14, inclusive, so as to provide workV engaging ratchet teeth or prongs 280. This form quently applied to structures which do not permit manipulation of a wrench or tightening' element upon a nut. In other words,. the screw is fre,l

quently inserted from the outside and the nut must be applied on the inside of the structure .in

a position which'is inaccessible for' tighteningde vices'or tools. It-is onlyl necessary in the application of a nut such as the above described'nut I5 for the user to rst freely spin the nut I5 on the ment to the nut after it has been tightened against the rwork.

The structure I5b, y

From the foregoing, it will be`apparent that."

-r my invention contemplates a simplified, yieldable nut which will spin onto a screw freely like a conventional nut and which, at the saine time, is adapted to lock tightly on the screw, as well as against the work in the nal tightening of the screw. Also,`my invention provides a nut which may be drawn tighter against the Work by continued rotation of the screw' than is possible by the use of conventional nuts, particularly where the nuts are used in places which do not readily permit the use of a Wrench or'nut-holdng tool. Obviously, the nuts described herein are not lim-- ited for use in stove construction, but have many other practical applications, as, for example, in-

the radio field. Because of the resilient characteristic of the above described nut bodies or sections, and the provision of axially deflected or projecting locking prongs, said nuts adapt themselves for use on surfaces which may vary in contour. A11 of the above described nuts have locking teeth or prongs on opposite sides, there- 15 by enabling either side of the nut to be applied to the bolt. This makes it unnecessary for the user to be concerned about the side of the nut which is being applied, and, in these days of high speed production activity, this convenience ma- 20 terially contributes in saving time and eiort on the part of the worker.

It will be apparent that my improved nut may bemadel by practicing simple, conventional, ma-

r chine'shop methods. 'I'hat is to say, the nuts 25 maybe made from a strip or piece of resilient flat. stock. It is only necessary to form and tap the apertures for receiving the screw and to punch the holes 24 and 24a in a strip of spring stock. This type of construction lends itself for simple stamping operations and hence enables the production of a very efhciently operative lock nut at la. very low cost.

Obviously, the invention is not Vlimited to the specic structural details disclosed and described herein but embraces other structural modifications and embodiments contemplated by the appended claims.

Having 'thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Pat- 40 ent is: c

1. A locking device including an apertured resilient body of relatively thin spring stock, thread follower means on said body in the vicinity of said aperture, said body having marginal por- 45 tionsl adapted to be engaged by a conventional i turning tool such as a wrench, and locking teeth .peripherally positioned upon said body adapted v4tobe. embedded within the surface of' a work ece when said body is tightened with respect there@ i a *2; A locking device including a plurality vof oppositely disposed body sections, each of said sections being provided withl internal thread follower means disposed in substantial coaxial 55 alignment, at least or@ of said sections being resilient, and locking means `associated with said resilient section for gripping the surface of the work when the device is tightened with respect thereto, said locking means and resilient section being cooperatively Adispos-,ed to permit axial nex- 1 ing of .said resilient section after said locking 1 means grippingly engages the work. .Y 1 3. A locking device including an apertured and folded'sheet metal resilient body, thread follower Il means on said body in the vicinity of .said aperture, and locking prongs flexed out of the plane of toprovide work engaging teeth to Stip the work when said body is tightened-.with -respect thereto Y politely disposed body sections, each voi! said sections being provided with internal thread follower means disposed in substantial coaxial alignment, at least one of said sections being resilient, and corner portions of said resilient section providing teeth adapted to grip the surface 5 of the work when the device is tightened with respect thereto, said corner portions and resilient section being cooperatively disposed to permitaxial flexing of said resilient section after the locking means engages the Work 5. A locking device including a plurality of oppositely disposed body sections of spring stock, a marginal connection Abetween said sections, each of said sections being provided with internal thread follower means disposed in substantial coaxial alignment, and peripheral locking means associated with at least one of said resilient sections flor gripping the` surface of the work when the device is tightened with respect thereto, said locking means and the resilient section directly associated therewith being cooperatively disposed to permit axial flexing of said resilient section after said locking means grippingly engages the work.

6. A locking device including a plurality of oppositely disposed body sections of spring stock, a marginal connection between said sections,

each of said sections being provided with internal thread follower means disposed in substantial coaxial alignment, and peripheral locking corners associated with at least one of said resilient sec-A tions for gripping the surface of the work when the device is tightened with respect thereto, said locking corners and the resilient section directly associated therewith being cooperatively disposed to permit axial flexing of said resilient section after said locking corners grippingly engage the work.

'7. A locking device including a plurality of oppositely disposed body sections of spring stock, 40 a marginal connection between said sections, eachy of said sections being provided with internal thread follower means disposed in substantial coaxial alignment, and peripheral locking means associated with said resilient sections for grip- 5 ping the surface of the work when the deviceis tightened with respect thereto, said locking means and the resilient section directly associated therewith being cooperatively disposed to permit axial exing of said resilient section after 50,

said locking means grippingly engages the work, said locking means projecting axially of said device so as to permit either side thereof to be applied dto a threaded shank.

8. A locking device including a plurality of oppositely disposed body sections of spring stock having side surfaces conforming in contour with the side surfaces of a conventional nut, a marginal connection between said sections, each of said' sections being provided with internal thread w 

